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Climate Change and Future Position of Arctic Tree Line

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Global Change and Arctic Terrestrial Ecosystems

Part of the book series: Ecological Studies ((ECOLSTUD,volume 124))

Abstract

Studies of northern circumpolar tree line have related tree distribution to numerous environmental controls, such as permafrost, moisture, heat, radiation, and frontal circulation patterns (Barry, 1967; Bryson, 1966; Hare and Ritchie, 1972; Hustich, 1966; Larsen, 1989). Recent modeling experiments indicate that the circumpolar tree line could be shifted north tens to hundreds of kilometers if anticipated magnitudes of global warming due to increases in atmospheric greenhouse gasses are realized (e.g., Emmanuel et al., 1985; Rizzo and Wiken, 1992). Detecting and migitating the negative impacts of such vegetation shifts requires an understanding of the dynamics of tree line-climate interrelations. In this chapter we review some of the data and current concepts regarding climate-vegetation dynamics at the circumpolar tree line. In an effort to evaluate the mechanisms responsible for forest development we review selected northern European and North American studies of northern forests, the tree line, and forest-tundra, and evaluate the dominant influences and processes of forest development at the forest edge. We synthesize this information to suggest how the tree line might react in real terms to future climate warming.

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Authors
  1. Peter A. Scott
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  2. Claude Lavoie
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  3. Glen M. MacDonald
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  4. Bjartmar Sveinbjörnsson
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  5. Ross W. Wein
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Global Change Research Group, San Diego State University, 92182, San Diego, CA, USA

    Walter C. Oechel

  2. Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, Sheffield Centre for Arctic Ecology, University of Sheffield, S1D 5BR, Sheffield, UK

    Terry V. Callaghan

  3. Department of Vertebrate Zoology and General Ecology, Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia

    Tagir G. Gilmanov

  4. Arctic Adaptation Division, Canadian Climate Centre, Downsview, Ontario, Canada

    Barrie Maxwell

  5. Department of Systematic Botany, University of Göteborg, S-413 19, Göteborg, Sweden

    Ulf Molau

  6. Institute of Biology, University of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland

    Bjartmar Sveinbjörnsson

  7. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alaska, 99775, Anchorage, AK, USA

    Bjartmar Sveinbjörnsson

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Scott, P.A., Lavoie, C., MacDonald, G.M., Sveinbjörnsson, B., Wein, R.W. (1997). Climate Change and Future Position of Arctic Tree Line. In: Oechel, W.C., et al. Global Change and Arctic Terrestrial Ecosystems. Ecological Studies, vol 124. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-2240-8_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-2240-8_14

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